I'm a little tentative about the size because most people seem to be getting along fine with smaller kites. To me a 13 is smaller. I keep moving down; 20 Rhino, 18 Rhino, about 4 16's (R7-16 currently), a couple of 14s - this OV-13 - and a 12. I'm happy to leave 'whisper kiting' to Flysurfer - I no longer have any interest blog slow kiting. There have been times when I could have ridded a unicycle faster. And, as I have painfully found, no-air kiting in the surf is simply asking for trouble. I was always the timid kiter; putting up a smaller kite than the best guys - now I prefer to ride with at least 1/2 depower. I am myopically interested in elevation and speed. I will never be brave or good enough to be a Dimitri Maramenides, but it is the reason I pump up.

The thing that attracted me was Eric's new shape. I'm sure those kids in Cabarete could get 20' airs with a garbage bag on coconut twine, but there seems to be some quite obvious logic to the swept-wing shape. I like the promise of being able to work the kite in the sky. I love my Rhinos, but want a faster kite.

Here's some pics...

It's interesting to look at it nose-down but it gives you the mis-impression that it has gull dihedral. The bridle is straight forward .. and I was eyeballing the leash attachment to play with a 5th line..

I love the coloring ..and I am surprised. Actually, I prefer something brighter because I see this as a Brite sport, not something akin to shooting bambi or paintball. Thankfully, Eric didn't do his center logo in White, so the graphics are perfectly balanced. I still prefer Silver over Gold metallic. I can still image Slingshot kites in Cabarete years ago with the bright Sun reflected off their Silver compass rose: very eye catching.

I have the paint gun out because I give all my new kites a treatment of 303 Protectant or something similar. My local waters are full of tannin and mud; black does a real nice job of showing both.

Note the deep draft of the struts and fairly large size of the L.E and struts - interesting. These shots give you a better perspective on the 'swept back' L.E.

When I get a moment. I will do some overlays with my two 14's to see how they compare ..and then some ON THE WATER reports. Yee-hawwww!

Taut: I put my R2-20 in a large commercial dryer a few years ago - I was testing some water repellent I got from Bayer Chem ..and because it used resin binders - it needed to be 'heat set'. Uh-Oh..!!

The kite did not tumble in the drum, and the stainless drum being heated with gas flame, melted my kite in the areas it was touching the drum. Oh well, that's why you call it Testing ...before you call it Success.

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HJ: ... I forgot to blow that one up?! I will use a Best bar and lines. I like the square center and finger grips on the Best bar. Maybe Friday.. FOR SURE Saturday: "South at 13kts".

Maradentro: Eric said the same thing. No problem - there's a stopper on the Best bar and 25cm is just about arm's length for me. If it doesn't work - you'll be the second to know. I'm a contrarian, but an honest one.